Electric-railway car



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

H. P. WELLMAN.

BLBGTRIG RMLWAY GAR. No. 558,870.

,l I e d "Kimm lllll IMM/A ANDREW BLRAHAM. PHDTD-IJTNQWASHINGTON D C www N am.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-'sheet V2.

H, P. WELLMAN.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY GAR.

Patented Apr. 2l, 1896E Ni'rnn STATES HABLAN P. VELLMAN, OF ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

ELECTRIC-RAILWAY CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 558,870, dated April 21, 1896.

Application filed November 5, 1895.

To LZZ whom t may concer/1,.'

Be it known that I, HABLAN P. VELLMAN, of Ashland, in the county of Boyd and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Railway Gars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric-railway cars, and has special reference to means for effecting the automatic lowering of the trolley-pole in the event of the trolley-wheel jumping the wire, whereby the lowering of said pole may be accomplished without the operator leaving the ear.

The present invention bears close analogy to that shown and described in my pending application for patent filed October l, 1805, Serial N o. 564., 314., but possesses different features, having advantages over the means therein described for accomplishing the above-stated result.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved connections or passageways for the fluid-pressure and avoid extending the supply-pipes over the roof of the car and connecting them to the trolley-pole. This I accomplish by providing the pivoted base on which the trolley-pole is swiveled with a depending tubular or cylindrical portion in which are two passage-ways for the pressure Huid, said passage-ways being connected, respectively, direct to the air-reservoir and aircylindercarried by said base. The rod of the piston in the air-cylinder is connected direct to two depending links pivoted to the trolleypole socket on the same axial line as the latter, and a central depending portion of said socket is designed to engage said links when the trolley-wheel jumps the wire, causing the piston to unseat the valves controlling the passages from the air-reservoir to the air-cylinder.

The present invention also embraces certain improvements in the communications between the air reservoir in the valve therefor.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set and cylinder and also vond passage-way.

Serial No. 568,029. (Nb model.)

forth, and particularly claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a view in side elevation, showing the lower end of a trolley pole and socket and its base with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion of the air reservoir and cylinder,parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 2 with parts in vertical section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the base. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line U 6, Fig. 5, with parts broken away. Fig. 7 shows details.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a portion of a car-roof; c, a trolley-pole base provided with teeth d around its periphery whereby said base can be turned or swiveled by any suitable means-as, for instance, by a pneumatically-operated rack-bar-such as is shown and described in my pending application for patent filed September 17, 1895, Serial No. 562,766. From this base depends a cylindrical portion a2 of suitable diameter to form the pivot for the base, and this is elongated into a narrower portion a3. \Vithin the bore or passage-way a4 of th'ese cylindrical portions is located a tube a5, forming a sec- At its lower end this tube is secured to a stuffing-box a6, into which opens a supply-pipe a7, while at its upper end said tube is screwed into a central threaded opening as of the base, from which opening leads a lateral bore or passage-way o, opening at its outer end through the top of the base.

From the upper end of the bore or passageway c4 leads a second lateral bore or passage- Way Z1', which also terminates in an opening in the top of the base. An oil-cup a" on extension ai catches any waste oil dripping from the inclosed portion a2. In this eXtension a3 is formed a series of holes or openings am, which are surrounded and inclosed by a T-coupling am, into which opens a pipe cl3. Suitable stuffing-boxes alinclose the ends of this coupling. From the base a project two parallel uprights b2, which support the pivotrod b3 of the trolley-pole socket Accntral depending portion b4 of this socket is movable pointed out in the IOO between these uprights, while parallel with the latter, on the outside thereof, are two depending arms h5, having curved extensions bt', provided with teeth o7. From the sides of the central portion D project hollow lugs bg, upon which are pivoted depending correspending links C, which at their lower ends are united by a cross-rod d. These links are designed to be engaged and forced rearward by the central depending portions l1* of the trolley-pole socket when the trolley-wheel flies off the wire.

D is a compressed-air cylinder, which extends from t-he uprights b2 and is open at one end. To the outer end of said cylinder is connected an air-reservoir E, which commu nicates with the cylinder D through the passage-way d, of a hollow connecting-neck d', and also through two ports d2 d3, leading into a common port d'1, opening into said cylinder. XVithin cylinder D is a piston d, whose rod d is connected direct to the cross-rod d of links C. The trolley-pole is constantly under the tension of two coil-springs dl, which at one end are held by adjustable screws d8, working in lugs d on the exterior of cylinder D, while to their other ends are connected sprocket-chains L10, united to the ends of arms b5 of the trolley-pole socket in such manner as to be engaged by the teeth t7 of the extensions if when the pole is lowered. A pipe lf2 leads from the bore orpassage-way b to and opens in the air-reservoir E, while a pipe D13 leads from bore or passage-way 1)/ to the air-cylinder D, into which it opens at tu.

F F designate two valves for controlling the admission of air from the reservoir to the air-cylinder, the former controlling passageway cl and port d2 and the latter port (Z3. The valve F comprises a cylindrical rod or neck j', having .a reduced portion j within the enlarged end of passage-way d, a valvedisk f2 on one end of said rod located in the reservoir, and a piston f3 on the other end within` the cylinder. The valve F' is a slide-valve, and has two bearing-faces f4, which are normally located over two end branches of por't cl3. It is recessed at its ends te accommodate, respectively, a projection of valve F and the lug of a plate f5, against which bears a coil-springf, inserted through a plug-closed opening at f7. This spring servesto normally hold the valves F and F/ seated, so as to close their respective ports. 'lhe rod or neck f is slightly reduced in diameter a portion of its length, as at f', so as to permit air from the reservoir to pass to the port lf2 when the disk f2 is unseated. Then this occurs, valve F/ is also unseated by reason of direct engagement therewith of the valve F, thus also allowing passage of air through port (Z3. On the outer face of piston f3 is a central lug f8, in line with and designed to be` engaged by a lu g fg of piston di. In practice pressure is constantly maintained 1n the air-reservoir, the air being supplied through the pipe Z912, leading from the lateral port l) in the base; but pressure is only admitted through pipe 1313 to the aircylin der when the operator desires to effect the lowering of the trolley-pole. The main office of this pipe D13 and its communicating passage-way a"L and pipe als is to relieve pressure from the cylinder when the device has been automatically operated after the trolley-pole has been lowered subsequent tothe trolleywheel accidentally jumping off the wire.-

Vhen the trolley-wheel is in engagement with the trolley-wire, the central depending portion of the pole-socket is held away 'from the links to which the end of the piston-rod d is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, and the piston (l5 is normally within a short distance of the piston f3 of valve F. If the trolley-wheel jumps the wire, thepole, under the action of its springs, immediately swings upward at its outer end, and the depending portion bi of the pole-socket striking against the links C will force rearward the piston d, causing lugs f8 ff of the two pistons to strike, ineving the piston f3 rearward and unseating valve-disk f2 and valve F', as againstv the action of the spring f6. This allows air to pass from the reservoir through ports d2, d3, and all into the cylinder between the two pistons therein. The piston d5 will be forced forward by the expanding air-pressure, and the links pushing against the depending portion of the pole-socket will cause the latter to turn on its pivot until the pole assumes a horizontal or other position with its wheel lowered beneath the trolley-wire. The pole then being under the control of the operator, by any suitable means whereby it can be readily made to re'engage the trolley-wire, the operator closes the valve (not shown) of the pipe al, cutting off supply to the reservoir, and opens the rclief-valve (also not shown) of pipe am, allowing air to escape from the cylinder. As soon as pressure is thus released, the valves F and F' assume their normal positions under the action of the sprin gs f The two pipes (t 7 ando13 are provided with flexible portions g to permit of the base and its depending portion being turned without injury to the pipe connections. By means of the sprocket-teeth 11T engaging-chains (llo lateral play of the latter is prevented.

The advantages of the present invention are manifest. All the connections between the pneumatic pressure device and their pipes are beneath, or about on a line with the car-roof, avoiding all ripper extensions, and the base is free to be turn ed when the position of the trolley-pole is to be changed.

XVhile I have shown and described the preferred forni of embodiment of my invention, yet l do not restrict myself thereto, since changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as my inventionl. rlhe combination with an electric-rail way car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base, a

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trolley-pole mounted thereon, a pneumatic pressure device carried by said base for automatically moving said pole, and pipe connections opening into said device and leading through said base, as set forth.

2. The combination with an electric-railway car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base having passage-ways therein, a pneumatic pressure device carried by said base for automatically moving said pole, and pipe connections opening into said device and leading from said passage-ways in said base, as set forth.

3. The combination with an electric-railway car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base having a depending cylindrical portion provided with ports or passage-ways, a trolley-pole mounted on said base, a pneumatic pressure device carried by said base for automatically moving said pole, pipes leading from said device to said ports or passage-ways, and a second set of pipes opening into said ports or passage-ways, substantially as set forth.

fl. The combination with an electricrail way car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base having a depending cylindrical portion and upper lateral ports, one of which communicates with said cylindrical portion, a tube or pipe in the latter opening into the other one of said lateral ports, supply-pipes communicating, respectively, with said cylindrical portion and said tube or pipe, atrolley-pole, apneumatic pressure device carried by said base for moving said pole, and pipes leading from said lateral ports and opening into said pneumatic pressure device, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with an electric-railway car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base having a depending cylindrical portion provided with holes therein, and upper lateral ports in said base, one of which communicates with the b ore of said cylindricalportion, a tube or pipe in the latter opening inte the other one of said lateral ports, a supply-pipe opening into said tube or pipe, a second supply-pipe coupled to said cylindrical portion around said holes therein, a trolley-pole mounted on said base, a pneumatic pressure device carried by said base and designed to automatically operate on said pole, and pipes leading from said lateral ports and opening into said device, substantially as set forth. 4

(i. The combination with the base, of the trolley pole, the socket therefor pivotally mounted on said base and having depending arms provided with toothed curved portions, the springs, the chains connected thereto and to said arms designed to be engaged by said toothed curved portions, and a pneumatic pressure device for effecting the turning of said trolley-pole on its pivot, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the base, of the trolley-pole, the socket therefor pivotally mounted on said base and having a depending portion, springs connected to said socket, and a pneumatic pressure device mounted on 'outer arms, said said base having a piston, and depending links pivoted at their upper ends on the same axial line with the pivot of said socket, and to the lower ends of which the rod of said piston is connected, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination with the base having uprights, of the trolley-pole, the socket therefor having a central depending portion and outer arms, a pivot-rod for said socket supported by said uprights, springs connected to said arms, depending links pivoted at their upper ends on line with the pivot of said socket, and a pneumatic pressure device having a piston the rod of which is connected to the lower ends of said links, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the base having uprights, of the trolley-pole, the socket therefor having a central depending portion and depending portion having hollow lugs, a pivot-rod passed through said lugs and supported by said uprights, springs connected to said arms, links depending from said lugs and connected at their lower ends, and a pneumatic pressure device having a piston the rod of which is connected to the lower ends of said links, substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination with a car, a pivoted trolley-pole, and springs acting thereon, of a pneumatic pressure device, comprising a cylinder, a piston moving therein having its rod designed to engage the socket of said trolley-pole and effect the movement thereof as against said springs, a reservoir, ports leading therefrom into said cylinder, and valves in said reservoir normally closing said ports and designed to be unseated by said piston when said trolley-pole leaves its normal position, thereby establishing communication between said reservoir and cylinder causing said piston to operate on said trolley-pole socket, substantially as set forth.

1l. The combination with a car, a trolleypole', a pivoted socket therefor, and springs acting thereon, of a pneumatic device, comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein having its r'od designed to engage a portion of said socket and effect the movement thereof as against said springs, a reservoir having ports leading into said cylinder, valves normally closing said ports, one-of said valves having a piston located in said cylinder, and a spring for normally holding said valves over said ports, substantially as set forth.

l2. The combination with a car, a trolleypole, a pivoted socket having a depending portion, and springs connected to said socket, of a pneumatic device comprising a cylinder, a piston movable' therein having its rod designed to engage said depending portion of said socket and effect the movement thereof and of said pole as against said springs, a reservoir, a port leading from said neck, a second port leading from said reservoir, both of said ports opening into a common port leading into said cylinder, valves designed to nor- IOO IIO

mally close said ports, one of said valves having a rod located in said hollow neck, a piston on said rod within said cylinder, said valve engaging the other one of said valves, and the springs bearing against said latter valve, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base havin g a depending cylindrical portion and two uprights, a trolleypole, a socket therefor, pivotally mounted between said uprights and having hollow lugs through which the pivot-rod is passed, said socket also having a central depending` portion and outer arms, springs connected to said arms, links depending from said hollow lugs and connected at their lower ends, a pneumatic pressure device carried by said base comprisin g a cylinder, a piston movable therein having its rod connected at its outer end to said links, a reservoir communicating with said cylinder and a valve or valves for controlling the passage from said reservoir to said cylinder designed to be unseated by said piston when said trolley-pole leaves its normal position, whereby said piston will be operated, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a car, of a revoluble trolley-pole base having a depending cylindrical portion provided with two ports or passage-ways, and upper lateral ports, lower supply-pipes opening into said ports or passage-ways in said cylindrical portion,uprights extending from said base, a trolley-pole, a socket therefor having a central depending portion provided with hollow lugs and outer depending arms, the pivot-rod, the springs connected to said arms, the links depending` from said hollow lugs and connected at their lower ends, the pneumatic pressure device comprising a cylinder, a piston movable therein having its rod connected to the lower ends of said links, said piston, having a central lug on its inner face, a reservoir having a hollow neck opening into said cylinder, and also having two sets ofports leading therefrom into said cylinder, a slide-valve normally closing one of said sets of ports, a spring bearing against said slide-valve, a second valve closing the other one of said sets of ports, having a rod extended through said hollow neck provided with a reduced portion, a piston on said rod movable in said cylinder having a central lug in line with the lug of said former piston, and pipes leading from said reservoir and cylinders and opening into said lateral ports of said base, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HABLAN I. VELLMAN.

Witnesses:

C. W. MEANS, W. C. RICHARDSON. 

